Pneumatically-controlled electric switch mechanism



June 24,. 1924. 1,499,224

W. C. KLEIN- PNEUMATICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 10, 1922 ,3 Sheets-Shee;t 1

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June 24,- 24- 1,499,224

w. c. KLEIN PNEUMATICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 10, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 24, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. KLEIN, OF ALLENTOWN, IPENNSYLV ANIA.

PNEUMATICALLY-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC} SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application filed January 10, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Pneumatically-Controlled Electric Switch Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a pneumatically controlled electric switch.

One object is to provide a novel construction particularly advantageously useful in registers of the type used in passenger cars for fare purposes.

A second object is to provide such a mechanism having a cylinder with a piston therein to coact under air pressure to close an electric circuit through an electro-magnet to actuate such register or other means.

Another object is to provide a suitable valve in such a mechanism, which may function to control both the inlet and exhaust of compressed air.

A further object is to provide such a construction of housing wherein a plurality of the switch devices, each associated with a different part to be operated, and utilize the same securing or mounting means.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating one practical embodiment and wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the improved switch mechanism in connection with a fare register installed on a passenger car, and the electrical connections;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the switch mechanism alone and with one of the sides of the casing removed to disclose details;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the switch mechanism with a part of the casing removed to disclose details, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially centrally through the pneumatic switch operating switch mechanism and on line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring specifically to the drawings, a register is shown at A installed on a car as conventionally illustrated at B, at any suitable location, for instance at the top of the bulkhead as usual, The particular register Serial No. 528,357.

illustrated is adapted to register the number of fares received at G and the number of transfers received at B, through any suitable means, controlled through actuation of levers E and F, respectively, fulcrumed or pivoted at Gr and H.

Associated with the lever E is an electromagnet which may be a solenoid as at 10 having its core 11 operatively connected at 12 to the lever E. A solenoid 13, similar to solenoid 10 is provided for lever F and its core at 14 is connected to the lever F as at 15.

In order to control actuation of the sole noids 10 and 13, electric switch mechanism of any approved type is provided. The instance shown consists of a casing at 16 disposed at any suitable location and particularly including a panel or mounting 17 disposed vertically and equidistantly of the sides in order to provide compartments 18 and 19. In each compartment 18 and 19, a block of insulation as at 20 is provided, preferably being slightly inclined as shown and secured to the panel 17 by means of screws 21. A spring leaf forming a contact is provided at 22, one at each end of each block 20, being fastened thereto in any suitable manner by means of screws 23. These contacts may have fastened thereto in any suitable manner conducting heads at 24:.

A switch arm is provided in order to bridge the contacts 22 and it may consist of an arm or bar 25 pivoted at 26 to a plate or bracket 27 fastened at 28 to the panel 17. Bar or arm 25 has a block 29 of insulation fastened thereto and which is provided with a curved or arcuate conductor 30 screwed thereto as at 31. The conductor 30 is adapted to bridge the contacts 22 to close electric circuits through the solenoids 10 and 13, respectively.

Both of the solenoids 10 and 13 have one terminal as at 32 and 33 ground at 34. The other terminal or pole of the magnet 10 by means of a conductor 35 is secured to one of the contacts 22 while the opposed contact 22 has a conductor 36 leading therefrom and connected to a conductor 37 leading to a conductor wire for the trolley of the car B in order to complete a circuit through the magnet 10.

A conductor 38 leads from the opposite pole or terminal of the solenoid 13 to the terminal 32, and to a contact 22 of the other h. h l the tam-E ementa y test 22 i 13. actuating the lever. 12 which'roperates the has a conductor BQ' lea-ding th'erefi'om.=and

connected to the wire'37 leading to the trolcuit of'solenoid 10 that such soleno-id'willbe actuated in order to thrown the lever B to operate the cash registering mechanism. Also it will be realized-thatwhen the conductory3O for the contacts 22in the circuit of.the.solenoid.13, are engaged, an electric.-

circuit is. established) through the, solenoid transfer registering mechanism at B;

The switch arms 25. are adaptedto be thrown .or: controlled pneumatically and in order. to accommodate. the pneumatic means,- casings... 40 are prov1ded' one in. chamber. 18'

andlone in chamber 19. A pipe 41, incommunication; With any suitable-j source of'compressed air under control'of 'a cut ofhvalve at,42,.is connectedas at 43,to.thecasings 40; Each casing, 40 isprovided Iwith =aibore forming aicylinder at 441inwhich a suitable typeofpiston' 45 operates, .whichpreferably haspackingat 46t0 wipe thewall of thebore 44. and'from whichipiston a: rod 47 extends being pivoted-at 48 to a link 49 in.turn.p,ivoted. at.50 to the arm, 25'." 'l hedowerend of'the boresv 44 are. closed by screw plugs 51" and they have openings in Whichthe. rods 47 aredisposedjandislid ably mountedL Apassageway for. the sup ply of compressed air. is provided at 52 communicating. with the bore '44 and 1 lead ing. froman enlargement or. here. at 53" in direct communication. with the branch 43. The escape ofcompressedair from the pipe 41 tllI'OXlgh KthB" branches. 431to the bore'53 is: normally. prevented by the engagement of. a. valve at 54 against. a seat: 55 and which valve. is urged. toward said'seat by an expansive spring at- 56 abutting thervalve 54 arrda'screwv plugy57 which is employed to:enclose the lower endof. the bore, 53.

' Pressure: within the bores 44may be. relievedYthrough ports 5.8:in advance of the piston.- 55.v Exhaust ofthercompressedlair mayzescape from the passageway52 through a port 59 in communication therewithand with a chamber 60 from which a port 61 leads exteriorly of the casing. lVithin the chamber, 60 a valve seat is provided at 62 which maybe engaged by a valve portion 63 providedona stem 64 which is depressible or slidable through. the casing and a screw plug 65 provided intlie chamber 60. A. stem. 66 extendswfrom. the. valve portion 63. into; the passageway. 52'. and rigidly. connects the valve 54 to the stem 64; Eachrof .the..,stems 54 may haveoperatinglheads or knobs 6.7 thereon.

[The casing 40. may be; secured in. placein" suitable. manner. by means, of bolts 68 passing through ears .69 on S ch casings and through the panels 17; Gonnected gwith the arms 25 are contractile coil springs 70 which are also connected as at 71 to a suitable pin mounted in thepanel 17.

In operation, when it is desired to actuate 1' the-lever E, solenoid IOLis-energiZed upon depression of the appropriate button 67 which moves valve- 54 from its seat enabling compressed air supplied through the pipe. 41 to enter through the. appropriate. branch 7 43 intothe passageway 52.. andcylinder 44 moving the piston 45 downwardly causingthrowing ofthe arm'25 and engagement ofthe conductor 30 with the proper contacts 22 of the switch. button 67, .it' is. released, whereupon spring. 56";restoresi valve 54 against its seatcuttin-g off'th'e'supply ofcompressed air and 'raising the valve portion 63from its seat enabling the compressed air. to escape from the cylinder 44 through ,the' passageway; 52'; port" 59', chamber 60 an-dportt'l. Spring 70, which has been tensionedEbfy the move ment of the arm 25 into switch closing position will thereupon operate to restore :the switch arm 25 to a normal or'elevated pd sition.

Itwill be realized thatthe actuation-described'is similar for the'registeringmeclr, anism at Dcontrolledby the solenoid 13 upon depression of the appropriate button 67 therefor. V

It. is to be, understood that; the switch is capable of b'roaduse and that I do not limit myself to its use in connection'w-ith even a register or to the use of aplura-lity of'switches, since in many instances a-single switch can be usedf and the inventionstil practised;

Buttons at 67 have been shown by way-of example only. as any desired. means may be employed to control the valves 54 and valve portions 63, for instance by, a foot lever, a cOrdor otherwise.

Additional changes may be resorted to within-the spirit and scope of the-invention as defined by. appended claim.

I claim as my invention An operating mechanism for an electric switch having a body provided-with ascy-l inder extending inwardly from one endand terminating short of, the other end, 010- sure means for the open end of the cylinder, a switch-closing means having'a piston operable in said cylinder whose rod extends slidably through said closure means, said body having a supply. chamber. for-power fiuidat one side of'saidcylindensaid body having an exhaust chamber; for power fluid substantially in alinement with the supply chamber, saidchambers extending inwarcL 1;; from opposite ends of; thesbody, plugs closing the open ends ofsaidchambersQsaid chambers being spaced apart at their. innor ends, said body having a tortuous pas After depression of the 80 sageway extending partially longitudinally of and between the cylinder and exhaust chamber including a branch extending from the supply chamber to the cylinder, said passageway having a port extending from the exhaust chamber substantially in line with said branch, a depressible stem extending through one of said plugs, valves carried by said stem and one in each chamber, said valves being adapted to coact With the branch and port, each valve being 'on the plug thereof to normally urge the valve therein to closed position. 15

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. KLEIN.

Witnesses:

H. H. HEARN, ROBERT J. REED. 

